Mr. Karam Chand, Chief Executive Officer of Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) and Mr. Bilal Ekşi, Chief Executive Officer and Deputy Chairman of Turkish Airlines (TK) are pleased with the new expansion to provide customers with more options to travel to Turkey

Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) and Turkish Airlines (TK) began its code share agreement in February 2016 that allows passengers to connect seamlessly from Bandar Seri Begawan to Istanbul via Dubai (and vice versa). Both airlines are pleased with the results and plans to further enhance this connectivity via Singapore.

So effective 1st May 2017, flights from Singapore to Istanbul (and vice versa) will be operated by Turkish Airlines whereas the flight between Bandar Seri Begawan and Singapore will be operated by Royal Brunei Airlines.

To Turkey via Singapore through RB

To Turkey via Dubai through RB

Mr. Karam Chand, Chief Executive Officer of RB said, “We are very pleased to have partnered with Turkish Airlines to provide our customers with more choices. The results to-date have been very encouraging and as a result, we are expanding our partnership. The RB and Turkish Airlines code share flights offer the best connection to Istanbul and vice versa and we believe we will further enhance the tourism and business links between two countries.”

Mr. Bilal Ekşi, Chief Executive Officer and Deputy Chairman of TK stated that; “This expansion in the scope of the codeshare will not only provide our respective passengers with varied options for traveling to Brunei, but also create a great opportunity for a seamless travel with the reduced layover durations. It is a pleasure for us to improve our service to Bandar Seri Begawan, which I believe will eventually contribute to the enhancement of the good relations between two countries.”

Customers can now choose to travel to Istanbul, Turkey via Dubai or Singapore. For further information on the Turkish Airlines cooperation, please contact your nearest Royal Brunei Airlines Office.

The grand winner of the lucky draw presented by Hj Harris bin Othman, the Belait District Officer at the KBSentral Brisk Walk event last Sunday

The warm up session

In conjunction of World Health Day 2017, Sentral Shopping Centre (KBSentral) hosted the KBSentral Brisk Walk that took place starting and finishing at the Car Porch Area of Sentral Shopping Centre yesterday 30th April 2017.

About more than 280 participants registered to join the event where they were all clad in a blue and orange striped uniform, emblazoned with The Brisk Walk logo along with its theme of Its Not Just A Walk, It’s a Workout.

Hj Harris bin Othman, the Belait District Officer was the guest of honour and also present were village heads and invited guests, sponsors and partners of the event.

According to the organizer, KBSentral Shopping Centre, the objective for this event were to increase self-awareness among the public about the importance of maintaining good health, both physically and mentally; and to change the perception of those who thinks exercise is a waste of time and troublesome.

There was also a lucky draw for participants who registered for the walk with the A360 Polar Watch as the grand prize.

In her opening remark, Miss Abby Lim, Sentral Shopping Centre’s General Manager stated, “We believe that starting your day off early in the morning with a walk is always a good starter. There has never been any better way to start your day with a bit of exercise and a good healthy breakfast.”

She also thanked the sponsors and partners for their support – REF Station, Origroce, Belait Police Station, volunteers from PJN Secondary School and Kemuda Institute, students from Pusat Eric Goh and Pusat Ehsan and also thanking her team from KBSentral Event.

For further information, please call 3339889 or 8307788 during management office hours from 8:30am to 5:30pm every day except Sunday.

The warm up session before the walk

The 6 KM walk around KB

Good to see families participating in this event

Walking past KB Sentral

The guest of honour in the group photo

KBSentral Management team

Noon Blush 💐 collection

Noon Sparkle 💎 collection

Sailor Noon ⛵ collection

Have you sorted your Raya outfits yet? 👸🏽
Pre-orders for Noon Raya collection is NOW OPEN until 13th May 2017

1. Please submit your name, contact number and your preferred designs;
🌹Sailor Noon
🌹Noon Blush
🌹Noon Sparkle

2. Please indicate your preferred size, we make from sizes XS to XXL. Kindly DM or whatsapp +6737164021 (during opening times only) for our Noon Raya Size Chart 💡

3. To secure your order, a deposit of 50 percent of the price is required to be made to the following account:

Bank: BIBD
Account name: Primeskills Enterprise
Account number: 00 001 01 0104622

4. Please submit the details above including proof of payment either:
🌹In person to the store
🌹Via whatsapp at +6737164021
🌹Via email at noon.clothes@gmail.com
Your clothing will be ready for pick up between late May and early June!

5. 📷 Noon Raya Snap & Win 📷 Take a picture in Noon Raya Collection for a chance to win an authentic and brand new Samsonite jewelry bag and passport holder from Noon for free! 💝🎁
📷simply tag @noon.bwn on IG/DM us a photo/hashtag the photo #noonbwn
ONE lucky winner will be notified during the 3rd week of July 2017

Noon is at Lot. T1-09, TERMINAL ONE, 1st floor, Centrepoint Hotel, Gadong, BSB, Brunei 🏨💝🌹🌷

Open: Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-9pm ⭕
Close: Monday 🚫 Friday 12-2pm only

Pre-orders ends on 13th May 2017.

📷 Noon Raya Snap & Win 📷 Take a picture in Noon Raya Collection for a chance to win an authentic and brand new Samsonite jewelry bag and passport holder from Noon for free!

The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet

Ms Pong Bee Thing receiving the key of her new car from Alfred So, the General Manager of Jati Transport

Ms Pong Bee Thing was the first customer to drive home her new Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet last Friday. She’s proud to be the first one to receive the striking cabriolet right after the model launch. She chose a C 180 Cabriolet in Designo Diamond White with the rood in red. This vehicle has also included an extensive range of optional extras such as the Burmester Surround sound system and a 19-inch AMG multi-spoke light-alloy wheels. She has been waiting for her order since 2015 and now she has the privileged to drive one.

For your info, the new C-Class Cabriolet is the first of its kind in the C-Class segment. The Cabriolet craves out a distinctive niche in Mercedes-Benz. The 2017 C-Class Cabriolet is a true four-seat convertible that comest with the latest technology to ensure driving comfort and safety. It is exquisitely built with the roof down and one of the most affordable luxury and spacious convertibles.

Ms Pong, the owner of the new C Cabriolet said, “I felt in love the very instant I saw the sneak pictures of the vehicle from Mr. Ho (Jati Transport Sales Manager). I was so confident with Mercedes-Benz that I had booked the vehicle without any test drive.”

“I have been driving Mercedes-Benz for almost 10 years and this cabriolet is my third Mercedes-Benz. I am really satisfied with the customer service provided by Jati Transport and now I’m looking forward to enjoy my new cabriolet for the first time.”

Enjoying her first taste of the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet

The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet

Baiduri Bank organisers of the Baiduri Masters Charity Golf Tournament with the partners

The highly anticipated annual golf tournament, the Baiduri Masters Charity Golf Tournament is set to tee off in a fortnight spanning two weekends, 28 to 30 April and 5 to 7 May 2017. This year marks the 22nd edition of the Baiduri Masters organised by Baiduri Bank Group.

Thanks to the support of strategic partner – the QAF Group of Companies, the much awaited hole-in-one car prizes for Baiduri Masters 2017 was confirmed this morning at the Partnership Signing Ceremony held at the QAF Centre. Besides two luxury cars, players will also stand a chance to win three cash prizes plus numerous other tournament prizes at the Baiduri Masters 2017.

The hole-in-one prizes for this year are as follows: BMW 320i M Sport for Hole 14; Mini Cooper S for Hole 5; and $20,000 cash prize for Holes 2, 12 and 16.

The event began with the opening remarks by Mr. Pierre Imhof, Chief Executive Officer of Baiduri Bank. He said, “Since the tournament’s inception in 1995, the Baiduri Masters has always been centred towards supporting our community and making a difference. The tournament has been raising funds for local charities and organisations that support people with special needs and promotes activities that help people with special needs integrate into society. Last year, we were able to raise $85,000 for charity.”

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony began with a signing between the Baiduri Bank Group and the RBA Golf Club. Another MOU between Baiduri Bank Group and Brunei Press was also signed this morning to appoint Borneo Bulletin and Media Permata as the print media partners for the event.

The signing ceremony with all the strategic partners. This picture was between Baiduri Bank and RBA Golf Club

The media during the coverage of the signing ceremony

One of the prizes for the hole-in-one

A BMW car as one of the prizes for the hole-in-one

Mr. Asmadi bin hj Alimustapha, General Manager of the RBA Golf Club,Mr. Albert Lau, Chief Executive Officer of QAF Brunei Sdn Bhd, and Mr. Reggie See, General Manager of Brunei Press Sdn Bhd signed on behalf of their organizations respectively while Mr. Pierre Imhof, Chief Executive Officer of Baiduri Bank signed on behalf of the Baiduri Bank Group.

Mr. Ng Joon An,Accountant at the RBA Golf Club,Mr. Siva Kumar Krishnan,General Manager of QAF Auto Sdn Bhd, Ms. Hazizah Osman, Deputy General Manager of Brunei Press Sdn Bhd and Mr. Andrew Young, Deputy General Manager, Operations Management Division andDiversification and Strategic Development of Baiduri Bank cum President of the Organising Committee of Baiduri Masters 2017 signed as witnesses respectively.

The champion of theBaiduri Masters 2016 was Tony Hj Karim, a first time Baiduri Masters champion. Rounding out the top 5 were Zulhilmi Rosli, Seruji Hj Setia, Johari Hj Ahmad and Pg Hj Ahmad Zaki.

The upcoming golf tournament is divided into four divisions: Men’s, Ladies, Juniors and Team. The Men’s division will be further divided into Men’s Open and Senior Golfers categories. The Junior Golfers category is open to golfers aged 13 to 18 years old.

Registration commences from Monday, 17 April 2017 and the registration fee remains at BND120 for adults and BND60 for juniors. The registration fee is inclusive of green fee, buggy, goodie bag as well as buffet breakfast and lunch. Players are invited to the prize presentation dinner at the end of the tournament.

Players may play more than once to improve their chances of winning. Adult players will enjoy a discount on the registration fee on their second and subsequent rounds. The best score of any round played will be taken.

For more information, please contact the Baiduri Customer Helpline at 244 9666 or log onto www.baiduri.com.

Check out the BMW golf wear

The BMW golf equipment looks elegant

Who’s gonna lift the Baiduri Masters trophy?

The previous winner of the hole-in-one back in 2015. This was the last time someone won a hole-in-one. Sadly there won’t be any Porsche lined up for the hole-in-one prize

Congratulations to Siti Nazmah Hj Abd Samad and Humaira Zakaria for being the chosen ones to represent Brunei in the upcoming KL Fashion Week 2017 after winning the heart of the judges for the AirAsia Runway Ready Designer Search

The judges and contestants awaiting for the results

AirAsia Runway Ready Designer Search, the regional fashion designer competition finally made its presence in Brunei for the very first time. Out of the many entries, only two were chosen to represent Brunei in the @KLfashionweek happening this August. The two finalists are Humaira Zakaria and Siti Nazmah Hj Abd Samad. They will be showcasing their creations at the Grand Finale in Kuala Lumpur this August. Congratulations to both of you.

For your info, the AirAsia Runway Ready Designer Search 2017 is a regional tour to ten Asean Countries. This is a platform to provide aspiring designer the opportunity of a lifetime to compete on a regional level and showcase their collection on a professional runway during the KL Fashion Week Ready to Wear.

According to Shirley Tan, Head of Marketing for AsiaAsia Berhad, “We are very pleased to expand the AirAsia Runway ready Designer Search to include all the 10 Asean countries and we are very excited to be here in Brunei. We are thrilled to see the talents and creativity that have come forward today.”

The judges’ scores are based on design creativity, originality, consistency of their collection, adherence to the Asean theme, practicality and stage presentation potential.

Both finalists received awesome perks:-

• 150,000 AirAsia BIG Points
• BND 8,000 funds to produced a capsule collection to be sold on fashionvalet.com
• A six page fashion spread in AirAsia’s in-flight magazine, Travel3Sixty
• AirAsia flights and mentorship from the KLFW RTW, apart from a confirmed slot to showcase their full collection in KL Fashion Week RTW 2018.

There were five judges during the audition in Brunei. They were Andrew Tan, Founder of KL Fashion Week Ready to Wear, Shirley Tan, Head of Marketing for AirAsia Berhad, Vivy Yusof, Co-founder of FashionValet, Nabeela Fazil @lipstickmyname, Brunei Fashion blogger and Farhana Pura, Creative Director of NA Forrer @naforrer

AirAsia is also KLFW RTW 2017’s Preferred Travel Partner and will be flying in fashion designers from AirAsia and AirAsia X Groups’ extensive route network including India, Japan, China, South Korea and Australia to showcase their latest collection at the KLFW RTW runway.

Siti Nazmah Hj Abd Samad @nazsyam being chosen as the two finalists to represent Brunei

Congratulations to Humaira @hzno for being the chosen one

Humaira Zakaria being interviewed by BIG magazine. She will give her best with the opportunity given. She didn’t expect to reach this far as being the final (among 8) was already great enough.

Farhana Pura, Creative Director of NA Forrer, Vivy Yusof, Co-founder of FashionValet, Andrew Tan, Founder of KL Fashion Week Ready to Wear, Shirley Tan, Head of Marketing for AirAsia Berhad and Nabeela Fazil @lipstickmyname

Bilster Technologies, subsidiary of Concepts Group of Companies with representatives from Brother International (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd during the MoU signing this morning

The signing begins for a new journey for Bilster Technologies

Brother International (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, a leader in consumer and business IT products and solutions that focuses on the “Customer-First” approach, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bilster Technologies (Brunei) this morning. As you know, Bilster Technologies is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Concept Group of Companies.

The MoU is a big milestone for Bilster Technologies as they become the only company to bring in the Brother brand to Brunei. Previously Concept Group of Companies have been involved with the service side of Brother and it’s no surprise that Brother has appointed Bilster Technologies (under the flagship of Concept Group of Companies) to be the authorized distributor for Brunei.

The MoU marks the commitment for both organizations towards a growing market as well as brand acceptance where Brother will be the brand of choice not only among home users but also to SMEs and businesses as well.

Vivian @ Norsurya Binti Hj Sabali, Business Development Executive of Bilster Technologies, Vincent Pao, General Manager of Concepts Group of Companies, Itsuo Segawa, Country Head at Brother International Malaysia Sdn Bhd and Brian Low, Country Sales Head, Sales, Corporate of Brother International (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd.

Token of appreciation from Vincent Pao to Itsuo Segawa

Mingling with guests after the MoU signing

It was also Itsuo Segawa’s (Country Head at Brother International Malaysia Sdn Bhd) first visit to Brunei Darussalam and he believes this MOU is a stepping stone for a long term relationship with Bilster Technologies. He believes in Vincent Pao, the main behind Concept Group of Companies, as a reputable business partner and helping in growing the brand name of Brother in Brunei Darussalam.

Segawa shared how consumers and businesses are now looking for user-friendly, cost-efficient solutions with outstanding quality and Brother will listen to their needs and wants. This is Brother’s strength and what differentiate them from other brands.

For your info, Bilster Technologies will carry a competitive range of Brother products, from the award-winning inkjet, laser printers, multi-function centers to hand label and mobile printers.

Vincent Pao is very excited with the partnership. The General Manager of Concepts Group of Companies shared that they are delighted to be able to work with Brother, a reputable Japanese company that focuses on quality and consistency. He is very confident that Bilster Technologies will increase the awareness of Brother in Brunei and make the consumers confident on Brother products. On top of that, they also have a after-sales service centre that will benefit customers of Brother.

Congratulations once again to Bilster Technologies on the milestone.

The 8th instalment: The Fate of the Furious

The Good. There are many good points to enjoy about The Fate of the Furious, it’s 8th instalment of The Fast and The Furious. One thing for sure are the stars of the show and the trailer has hinted that John Statham will be combining forces with the FF gang. Why FF series are so popular because it resonates to the audience with one specific theme – “We are family”. Hence, you are bound to see family bonds between the non-biological related characters and their chemistry on screen seems to bring an emotional connection to the audience. I was already sold after Fast and the Furious 4 when the main characters united and the momentum never stopped since then.

The set pieces were pretty good and maybe to an extent, mind-blowing. Why I say to an extent? Because majority of the sequences are OTT (over-the-top). Then again, the producers of FF somehow brainwashed us along the series that FF movies are no-brainer entertainment and treat it as a popcorn (level) movie. Yes, most of the scenes defy logic and physics but we as the audience will still be glued to the screen despite these known factors. My favourite scene will be in the city where cars are being hacked and have minds of their own. Awesome!! I wonder what’s next? Space travel? Who knows…

The Bad. The big thing that ticked me is Dom’s character (Vin Diesel) when he turned rogue and turn his back on his “family”. This is no spoiler as it was clearly stated in the trailers. I was more upset on the motive of his decision to turn rogue. I just felt that it wasn’t that convincing to begin with. I just found it “bleeeh”. Then again, most of the plot of FF8 doesn’t really made sense but we still enjoyed it nonetheless. I would have given the movie extra points if the producers fixed some loop holes in this flawed movie.

The OTT sequences may be bearable but also to an extent. The final act of the movie raised my eyebrows and this reminds me of espionage movies such as James Bond series. It has come to that level that the protagonists are tough to die and give what the fans/audience want – a happier ending. I would say that FF8 was slightly below the rating of FF7 (which I would watch again and again). Will I watch FF8 the second time? Maybe yes, maybe no. Oh yea, the movie is more than 2 hours long and it’s a bit unnecessary.

The Ugly. I’m surprised that this franchise is able to stretch to this level of success, releasing its 8th movie. No other movie franchise has reached this milestone apart from the Harry Potter series. FF franchise is a cash cow business model. The FF7 made around USD 1.5 billion in ticket sales. That’s a ridiculous amount of money. Now, why do I put this in the “ugly” side? Because producers of FF franchise will begin to produce more FF movies (FF9 in 2019 and FF10 in 2021) and I can tell you that there are running low on ideas. I just hope it doesn’t go down to the level of Michael Bay’s Transformers (Just beyond ridiculous and yet we still watch them *lol*).

Verdict: We have come to an era where over-the-top action can be accepted (when comes to Fast & Furious franchise). Slightly underwhelming than FF7 while FF5 is still the best among the lot. I still enjoyed FF8 honestly but they are running out of ideas.The Fate of the Furious also scored the lowest since FF5 with 64% on Rottentomatoes.

Rating: 8/10

Yushi Chua, Director of Optic King Company, delivering her opening remarks and appreciated her family for the support they have given

Saturday, 15th April 2017 marked the Grand Opening of Optic King, a first optical boutique located on the 1st Floor, Centrepoint Hotel, Gadong. The Guest of Honour, Mr. Muhammad Jamari bin Dangat, the President of Brunei Darussalam National Association of the Blind officiated the Grand Opening.

The Grand Opening Ceremony began with a doa, followed by a speech from the Director of Optic King Company, and advanced to the ribbon cutting. Optic King presented a donation to the Brunei Darussalam National Association of the Blind. One of Optic King’s mission is to promote good eye health by engaging qualified optometrists and sponsoring training of its staff in the optical field.

Optic King has brought in a wide range of quality designer brands to Brunei. They offer designer labels from major fashion cities and brings emerging designer labels from the optical industry to Brunei. Optic King holds exclusive eyewear brands such as Givenchy, Tiffany & Co. and Burberry. Other brands include Michael Kors, Oakley, Marc Jacobs, and RayBan to name a few. Whether you are looking for brands from Paris, Italy or the United States, Optic King is never far away. Optic King brings to Brunei much sought after brands to you at the central shopping district of Gadong.

Optic King is also equipped with highly advanced ophthalmic instrumentations. The Company offers quality ophthalmic lens brands namely Essilor and Nikon, which incorporates new optical technology catering for different visual needs. Optic King is also the first optical store to recruit a Bruneian optometrist. Their optometrist is qualified from the United Kingdom and provides services of top standard. From the moment you step in the store, you are welcomed by their well- informed friendly staff and optometrist that is always ready to serve you and your optical needs.

Congratulations once again and you can follow their IG @optic.king

Mr. Muhammad Jamari bin Dangat, the President of Brunei Darussalam National Association of the Blind having a light moment with Yushi

There are two sides to Optic King

Oakley, anyone?

I didn’t know Tiffany & Co. does glasses too. Interesting and unique!!

One of the niche brand, Givenchy

You can have your eyes checked here and see how good your vision is

Yushi and her staff at Optic King

Thanks Yushi for the invitation